82R7921 MAW-F
By: Farias H.B. No. 2820
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a pilot program in Bexar County to
provide an educational course to certain parents on the effects of
child abuse and neglect.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 263, Family Code, is
amended by adding Section 263.107 to read as follows:
Sec. 263.107. EDUCATIONAL COURSE PILOT PROGRAM. (a) In
this section, "abuse" and "neglect" have the meanings assigned by
Section 261.001.
(b) The department shall establish a pilot program in Bexar
County that requires a parent receiving services from the
department in Bexar County and against whom the department has made
a finding of abuse or neglect to complete an educational course on
the effects of child abuse and neglect on a child. The department
shall require completion of the educational course as a condition
of the service plan for the parent.
(c) The educational course must include at least 16 hours of
education regarding the effects of child abuse and neglect on a
child and the child's family, including the impact of abuse and
neglect on the child's physical, psychological, and emotional
well-being.
(d) The department may contract with a private entity to
provide the course.
(e) The department shall establish a reasonable enrollment
fee for the course to be paid by the parent. The department may
waive or reduce the enrollment fee for an indigent parent.
(f) The department shall report to the lieutenant governor,
the speaker of the house of representatives, and the members of the
legislature not later than January 1, 2013, on the results of the
pilot program and the effect the educational course has had on child
abuse and neglect cases in Bexar county. The report must include the
department's recommendations on improvements to the program and
whether the program should be continued on a statewide basis.
(g) The department shall adopt rules necessary to implement
this section.
(h) This section expires September 1, 2013.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.